Condos In Rothesay

(Map of proposed development)
(File Photo)

A housing project for Rothesay will be discussed tonight at a public hearing.

Two contractors are looking at building 24 condos on land near Rothesay Elementary School.

The project would make Robertson Drive and Clermont Lane moderate density areas instead of low density areas.

Mayor Bill Bishop says a lot of people are looking to downsize but Rothesay lacks condo style living.

Some initial questions were raised about flooding because of wetspots in the area but the contractors say an engineering firm will be hired to minimize flooding.

Anyone with any concerns can attend a public hearing tonight at town hall starting at 7:00.

Conservation Council Not Happy With Task Force

A recent conference on energy has the province's Conservation Council frowning.

A Task Force was established at the conference and Energy Minister Jack Keir says the goal is to get everyone in the community involved in the energy sector.

But David Thompson with the Conservation Council tells CHSJ News the Task Force only represents people who have profited at the expense of the province in the past. 

He says he didn't hear about any poor people being at the conference, and the environmental network for the province wasn't invited. 

There are 11 community and business leaders on the Task Force including:

Dale Knox...President and CEO of Tabufile Records Management
Mike Ashar...President of Irving Oil Operations
Jim Irving...President of J.D. Irving Limited
Andrew Dawson...Building and Construction Trades Department
Rayburn Doucet...President and CEO of the Port of Belledune
Daniel St. Onge
Gerry Pond...Representing the New Brunswick Poverty Reduction Plan
Leopold Pinet
Eddy Campbell...President of the University of New Brunswick
Clair LePage...Deputy Minister of Energy
Gaëtan Thomas...President and CEO of NB Power

Keir Doesn't Want Saint John Ignored

(Energy Minister Jack Keir)
(File Photo)

Conservative MLA Trevor Holder may think the Bernard Lord government looked after Saint John but Energy Minister Jack Keir doesn't agree.

Keir says he sat on Enterprise Saint John when Bernard Lord was Premier and he wouldn't invest in Saint John's emergency room or a medical school at UNBSJ.

Keir says the reason he got involved in 2006 was because he thought southern New Brunswick was being ignored.

Blaney Says Premier Campaigns

(Rothesay M-L-A Margaret-Ann Blaney)
(File Photo)

Conservative M-L-A Margaret-Ann Blaney isn't sure why the Premier says he isn't in campaign mode.

Shawn Graham said at the Areva announcement last week that an election hadn't been called yet so he's not in the middle of a campaign.

Blaney says the Liberal Party has been running attack ads against her for weeks and you typically don't do that unless an election is looming.

The Money Collector's Show Comes To Town

There will be a lot of extra money in Saint John this week.

Canada's Money Collector's Show is setting up shop at the Trade and Convention Center for three days starting on Thursday.

Geoffrey Bell is the past president of the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association and tells CHSJ News, there is a big crowd of people who buy, sell, trade and collect money both paper and coin.

Bell says there is plenty going on at the show including appraisals of your collectables, an auction and the Royal Canadian Mint will have a display of medals from the Vancouver Winter Olympics.

He adds this is sixth time in sixty years the national organization has come to the Maritimes and the first time in Saint John.

Ironically, the countries first chartered bank was in Saint John on Prince William Street in 1820.

It's free to get in and the show runs until Saturday.

Board of Trade Chair Talks Areva

(Mike Murphy, Chair of the Board of Trade)
(File Photo)

The Chair of the Board of Trade is pleased with the signing of a letter of intent between nuclear company Areva and the Province.

Mike Murphy tells CHSJ News, anytime you can talk about significant job growth and education improvement, it is exciting.

Murphy says if you look at the retail growth in the metro over the past ten years, that has come about because of solid investment like the possibility of a second reactor.

As for the possibility the proposal could fall through if the re-election bid by the Graham Government comes up short, Murphy says he likes to think any party would put job creation before political motivation.

Fire In West Side

(Crews respond to a fire at 299 Watson Street in the West Side)
(Photos by Doug Epton)

City fire crews called to a fire on the West Side in the early hours this morning.

A one-and-a-half story two family home was on fire at 299 Watson Street.

District Chief Gerry Morris says when crews arrived on scene at around 4:30 in the morning flames were coming from the back of the building and the roof.

He says the house was empty as the owner had just sold it and the new owner was supposed to take possession on Monday.

While no one was hurt, Morris says the building is a total loss.

Crews are still on scene now investigating although the fire has been put out.

Losier Happy With Proposal For A Second Reactor

One mayor in Greater Saint John is ready for the spin-off's if the proposal for a second reactor at Point Lepreau is to move forward.

Grand Bay Westfield's Grace Losier tells CHSJ News, she isn't afraid of nuclear energy and is thrilled with the commitment to safety Areva has.

Losier says she remembers the boom her town experienced during the construction of Point Lepreau and looks forward to the outcome of this business plan proposal.

Minister Says Six Lanes Still Ago

(Minister of Transportation Denis Landry)
(File Photo)

Any opposition to the new six lane McKay Highway isn't phasing the Minister of Transportation.

Denis Landry tells CHSJ News, he heard no one speaking against the project during public consultation. 

He says as far as knows, the work is carrying on.

Mayor Ivan Court has spoken out against the new six lane highway saying all it will do is provide a quicker exit for those looking to leave Saint John but Minister landry says safety is the reason why the project is on the table.

Howe's Lake Dump Not For Development

Common Councillor Patty Higgins posed a question whether the Howe's Lake Dump could be rehabilitated for any kind of development.

Deputy City Manager Andrew Beckett says there is no way that can ever happen.

Beckett says they would never get environmental clearance and warns that gases are still be emitted from the old dumpsites.

Long Wharf Restoration Continues

The International Longshoremans Association is pleased to see restoration work moving along at Long Wharf.

This after Irving Oil scrapped it's plan to build a new office tower on the site.

Spoker-person Pat Riley tells CHSJ News, at this point, there are no solid proposals for the area.

Riley says his group is hopeful they can find work for the terminal in the long term.

Lepreau Is Number One Issue

(Energy Minister Jack Keir)
(File Photo)

The refit at Point Lepreau doesn't seem to be making any headway, still 18 months behind schedule and losing ground.

Energy Minister Jack Keir tells CHSJ News, the Graham Government realizes this is the number issue for rate-payers right now.

Minister Keir adds officials still have no answer for the ""technical"" problem they have encountered.

Every day the plant is off line, the Province is paying one million dollars for replacement power.

Letting The Cat Out

If you're thinking about getting a pet, right now is a good time to let the cat out of the bag.

The Saint John Animal Rescue League is having an information session on cat foster care today from 2 until 4.

Shelter Manager Shelley Rogers says there are always more cats available in the Spring and Summer because it's mating season.

Rogers says families really love it when they get to come in and choose a cat and it's always a big event.

To find out more, go to http://www.saintjohnanimalrescue.com/.

People's Alliance To Put Together Policies For Provincial Vote

(People's Alliance Of New Brunswick Leader Kris Austin)
                             (File Photo)

After this weekend, we should have a better idea what the newest political party in the province, the People's Alliance stands for. The party is meeting in Oromocto to put together a platform to offer voters for the September 27th provincial election. Party leader Kris Austin tells CHSJ News what won't change is the pledge to hold free votes in the Legislature so M-L-A's can better represent the views of the people in their ridings. He claims that won't be as chaotic as some people might think. Austin vows the policy meeting will give those people who haven't been listened to by the mainstream parties a chance to be heard for a change.
The Party's Executive director Stirling Wright says they will have a lot to talk about including transportation, health care, education, the environment, energy and employment opportunities.

Mayor Says Projected Cost Of New Police Headquarters Proves Naysayers Wrong

(Saint John Mayor Ivan  Court)
              (File Photo)

Mayor Ivan Court says all the fear mongers were wrong about how much the new police station at Peel Plaza will cost. The figures being bandied about ranged from 40 to 60 million dollars. The Mayor tells CHSJ News those were wildly off the mark and he's pleased with the lowest bid. Court goes on to say both the city ands the province explored the possibility of a public-private partnership and found it to be too expensive. Mayor Court predicts the majority of Common Council will be pleased although Deputy Mayor Stephen is expected to vote against at a special meeting of Common Council planned for Tuesday to vote on the project.

Body Found

The body of the missing 54-year-old Saint John man has been found.

A family member reported him missing after they found an empty aluminum boat on the South Oromocto Lake earlier this morning.

After searching the area, RCMP found the body just before noon.

The man's name has not been released yet.

Energy Conference Raps

(Jack Keir speaks at the energy conference)
(Photo by Sherry Aske)

Coming out of a day and half long energy conference, Energy Minister Jack Keir says it's important to have the whole community involved.

He says they need the universities, the building trades, the unions, and social organizations all involved.

Keir says they've established a task force that will be responsible for moving the energy hub forwards, defining it, and coming up with key projects.

Welsford Man Is Going To Court

Tuesday morning is when a 65-year old Welsford man will appear in Hampton Court to answer to two charges of luring over the Internet.
The charges stem from an ongoing investigation initiated by the Halifax Regional Police Department into a man allegedly attempting to lure a child over the Internet.


On April 14 a search warrant was executed at the man’s home by the RCMP where computer and electronic equipment were seized.

Where Will All The People Go

As the issue of out-migration from Saint John continues to swirl, there is a question that needs to be answered?

Hypothetical, if everyone who calls the Kennebecasis Valley home were to say they wanted to move into the city, is there enough room?


Dave Cochrane is a realtor with Remax and tells CHSJ News, not a chance because with just over 25,000 people living in Quispamsis and Rothesay alone, there are not enough properties to go around.


Cochrane says if you also take the price of a home for example in Millidgeville, along with the $1.72 tax rate and a lot of people simply can't afford to hang their shingle in Saint John.

Arrest Made in Oromocto Legion Fire

(Photo Of The Oromocto Legion Before The Fire)

                (Courtesy of a Listener)

A teenager from Oromocto has been arrested in connection with a fire that destroyed the Legion in that town last month.


RCMP picked up the 18-year old man yesterday and a charge of arson is expected to be laid.


The man has been released and is scheduled to appear before a judge September.13th to enter a plea.